Soak up

Latest answer — August 13, 2026

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Clue decoded

To ABSORB something is to soak it up, whether the thing absorbed is liquid, light, or information. The answer is the base-form verb matching “Soak up.”

Clue type:
Definition
A sponge soaking up water from a surface.

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Thursday, August 13, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Music genre for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
  2. 4"The Good Wife" channel
  3. 7Includes on an email thread
  4. 10Prepare to throw a dart
  5. 11"Could you repeat that?"
  6. 12Pretend to be a kangaroo, say
  7. 13In Stockholm: "fisk"
  8. 16Spot of some congestion
  9. 17Pinnacle
  10. 18World Cup official
  11. 20Hum like an electric fan
  12. 21In Rome: "ghiaccio"
  13. 24Condescending sort
  14. 25Cleanup hitter's stat
  15. 26"___ only take a minute"
  16. 27Roadblocks
  17. 31In Athens: "Giaourti"
  18. 34In a foul mood
  19. 35"What Was I Made ___?" (Billie Eilish song from "Barbie")
  20. 36Oolong or darjeeling
  21. 37Emmy winner Edebiri
  22. 38Baby bear
  23. 39Hold the deed to

Down

  1. 1Back talk
  2. 2Egg-shaped (and egg-sized) fruit
  3. 3"You said it!"
  4. 4Ice sculptor's tool
  5. 5Forrest Gump waits for one in "Forrest Gump"
  6. 6"Keep your voice down!"
  7. 7Ostentatiously fancy
  8. 8Incomprehensibly vast
  9. 9Basketball or baseball, but not football
  10. 14Long-lasting
  11. 15Excessively flattering, with "over"
  12. 19Relative of a spruce
  13. 21Spot for documents that need attention
  14. 22"Holy ___!"
  15. 23Soak up
  16. 24Letter between rho and tau
  17. 28Prefix with -tune or -correct
  18. 29Got bigger
  19. 30___ Wawrinka, winner of three Grand Slam tournament titles
  20. 32"Finger lickin' good" chain
  21. 33"Who are ___ to judge?"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Music genre for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones — Answer: SKA. Hint: Think of the upbeat brass-driven genre closely associated with this Boston band! 🎺
  2. 4. "The Good Wife" channel — Answer: CBS. Hint: This broadcast network aired the legal drama starring Julianna Margulies. 📺
  3. 7. Includes on an email thread — Answer: CCS. Hint: Adds someone to the conversation without making them the main recipient 📧
  4. 10. Prepare to throw a dart — Answer: AIM. Hint: Focus carefully on your target before letting the dart fly 🎯
  5. 11. "Could you repeat that?" — Answer: HUH. Hint: A puzzled listener might use this brief question when they didn’t catch what was said. 🤔
  6. 12. Pretend to be a kangaroo, say — Answer: HOP. Hint: Think of the bouncy movement you might imitate when acting like this Australian marsupial. 🦘
  7. 13. In Stockholm: "fisk" — Answer: SWEDISHFISH. Hint: Think of a famously chewy red candy with Nordic roots 🍬
  8. 16. Spot of some congestion — Answer: SINUS. Hint: Think of the facial cavity that often feels blocked during a cold. 🤧
  9. 17. Pinnacle — Answer: ACME. Hint: Think of the highest point or ultimate peak of something. ⛰️
  10. 18. World Cup official — Answer: REF. Hint: This soccer authority keeps an eye on the action and enforces the rules. ⚽
  11. 20. Hum like an electric fan — Answer: WHIR. Hint: Make the soft, steady sound of spinning blades. 🌀
  12. 21. In Rome: "ghiaccio" — Answer: ITALIANICE. Hint: This refreshing frozen dessert is smooth, sweet, and spoonable on a hot day. 🍧
  13. 24. Condescending sort — Answer: SNOB. Hint: This person acts superior and looks down on everyone else. 🙄
  14. 25. Cleanup hitter's stat — Answer: RBI. Hint: This baseball stat counts the runners a slugger brings home. ⚾
  15. 26. "___ only take a minute" — Answer: ITLL. Hint: A casual contraction reassures someone that this won’t take long. ⏱️
  16. 27. Roadblocks — Answer: SNAGS. Hint: Think of pesky obstacles that get in the way 🚧
  17. 31. In Athens: "Giaourti" — Answer: GREEKYOGURT. Hint: Think of a tangy, creamy breakfast staple associated with a city famous for ancient temples. 🥣
  18. 34. In a foul mood — Answer: MAD. Hint: Feeling angry and far from cheerful 😠
  19. 35. "What Was I Made ___?" (Billie Eilish song from "Barbie") — Answer: FOR. Hint: Complete the title with the tiny word that follows “Made” and precedes the question mark 🎵
  20. 36. Oolong or darjeeling — Answer: TEA. Hint: Both are varieties of a soothing drink often served in a cup. 🍵
  21. 37. Emmy winner Edebiri — Answer: AYO. Hint: Think of the Emmy-winning comedian and actress’s short first name. 🎭
  22. 38. Baby bear — Answer: CUB. Hint: What do you call a young bear that's just starting to explore the woods? 🐻
  23. 39. Hold the deed to — Answer: OWN. Hint: Have legal possession of something, such as a house or piece of land 🏠

Down

  1. 1. Back talk — Answer: SASS. Hint: Sometimes a little attitude can spice up a conversation! 😏
  2. 2. Egg-shaped (and egg-sized) fruit — Answer: KIWI. Hint: Think of a small, fuzzy fruit with a bright green center and tiny black seeds 🥝
  3. 3. "You said it!" — Answer: AMEN. Hint: A brief word of agreement often heard at the end of a prayer 🙏
  4. 4. Ice sculptor's tool — Answer: CHISEL. Hint: A sharp hand tool used to carve and shape frozen blocks 🧊
  5. 5. Forrest Gump waits for one in "Forrest Gump" — Answer: BUS. Hint: It’s the vehicle he patiently waits for at the stop. 🚌
  6. 6. "Keep your voice down!" — Answer: SHH. Hint: A gentle request for silence, often heard in libraries. 🤫
  7. 7. Ostentatiously fancy — Answer: CHICHI. Hint: Think of a showy, over-the-top style that wants everyone to notice it. ✨
  8. 8. Incomprehensibly vast — Answer: COSMIC. Hint: Think on a scale so enormous it feels like it belongs to the universe itself. 🌌
  9. 9. Basketball or baseball, but not football — Answer: SPHERE. Hint: Think of the rounded shape shared by basketball and baseball, unlike football’s elongated form. 🏀
  10. 14. Long-lasting — Answer: DURABLE. Hint: Built to stand the test of time, this describes something that won’t wear out quickly. 🛠️
  11. 15. Excessively flattering, with "over" — Answer: FAWNING. Hint: Think of praise so excessive that it feels insincere. 😏
  12. 19. Relative of a spruce — Answer: FIR. Hint: Think of another evergreen conifer often chosen as a Christmas tree. 🎄
  13. 21. Spot for documents that need attention — Answer: INTRAY. Hint: It’s the desk organizer where papers awaiting your review are placed. 📄
  14. 22. "Holy ___!" — Answer: TOLEDO. Hint: This surprised exclamation shares its name with a city in Ohio. 😲
  15. 23. Soak up — Answer: ABSORB. Hint: Take in liquid or information, as a sponge or attentive listener might. 🧽
  16. 24. Letter between rho and tau — Answer: SIGMA. Hint: Think of the Greek alphabet’s middle neighbor between rho and tau. 🏛️
  17. 28. Prefix with -tune or -correct — Answer: AUTO. Hint: This prefix suggests something happening by itself, as in a self-adjusting feature. ⚙️
  18. 29. Got bigger — Answer: GREW. Hint: Became larger over time, like a plant reaching for sunlight 🌱
  19. 30. ___ Wawrinka, winner of three Grand Slam tournament titles — Answer: STAN. Hint: Think of the Swiss tennis star famous for his powerful one-handed backhand 🎾
  20. 32. "Finger lickin' good" chain — Answer: KFC. Hint: This fast-food favorite is famous for its secret recipe and a Kentucky colonel mascot. 🍗
  21. 33. "Who are ___ to judge?" — Answer: YOU. Hint: Fill in the blank with the pronoun used when speaking directly to someone. 🙂

Recent NYT Midi Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Soak up” in the New York Times Midi crossword is ABSORB — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 13, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 23-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Soak up” answer

ABSORB (6 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is ABSORB.

When else has “Soak up” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 13, 2026 (most recent) → ABSORB. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Midi Crossword on August 13, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times Midi answer list for August 13, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Midi answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Midi Crossword

The New York Times Midi is the mid-size daily puzzle between the Mini and the full crossword — typically a 7×7 grid that still rewards quick pattern recognition. Because the Midi is compact, one stubborn clue can jam the whole solve, which is why a confirmed answer and a short explanation help most when you're stuck on a single square.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Soak up”?

The answer is ABSORB, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 13, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Soak up”?

6 letters: ABSORB.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 13, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 23-Down.

Can “Soak up” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for August 13, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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